Reverse Mortgages: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

The reverse mortgage was invented decades ago to help seniors facing economic hardship access the equity in their homes. Between 1990 and 2010, more than 660,000 reverse mortgages were issued, according to the AARP. Today, the products are aggressively marketed through ads featuring Boomer-friendly spokespeople such as Henry Winkler (the Fonz fromHappy Days).